Release water from the Gilchrist mill pond dam
The Issue
The mill pond dam in Gilchrist, OR, has not released water into the Little Deschutes river since mid June, 2026. There is flow into the mill pond of between 10 and 15 cubic feet per second, but zero flow out of the dam. The river is running dry, and without a release of water, all life relying on the river will be gone by the end of the 2026 summer. This is an unprecedented event - the river has not run dry in our lifetimes.
The Little Deschutes is a perennial river, supporting aquatic life like pearlshell mussels that require continuous flow to survive. Some of the mussels in the river are more than 70 years old - evidence the river has not run dry in at least that long, and has likely had continuous flow for thousands of years. The range of mussel sizes shows the rivers supports an active reproducing population - an indicator of a healthy river ecosystem. Fish, crayfish, frogs, snakes, migratory birds, beavers, deer, elk, and numerous other wildlife can be found in the river and surrounding riparian areas.
In addition to the ecological impacts, the empty river increases wildfire risk, reduces wildland firefighting capability, and eliminates a treasured source of recreation. The healthy ecosystem and good stewardship of the environment is a draw for local residents and tourists alike. The destruction of a healthy river ecosystem will disincentivize tourists from visiting Gilchrist and Crescent and impact the economic wellbeing of the area.
We, the undersigned, request a river sustaining release of water from the Gilchrist mill pond dam. The amount of water release should be, at minimum, enough to create a continuous flow in the Little Deschutes River for the roughly 7.5 miles until the confluence with Crescent Creek. Based on historical river flow information, data from OWRD, and independent studies, this amount is estimated to be around 2-4 cubic feet per second. This release of water will reduce pond levels, but not to an extent that aquatic life in the mill pond or the ability to pull water from the pond for firefighting resources will be affected. As an added benefit, a reduction in pond level will increase flow of silt and clay into the pond, which will decrease pond loss from percolation into the ground (the primary source of water loss in the pond). The release of water from the Gilchrist mill pond dam will be an all-around benefit.
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The Issue
The mill pond dam in Gilchrist, OR, has not released water into the Little Deschutes river since mid June, 2026. There is flow into the mill pond of between 10 and 15 cubic feet per second, but zero flow out of the dam. The river is running dry, and without a release of water, all life relying on the river will be gone by the end of the 2026 summer. This is an unprecedented event - the river has not run dry in our lifetimes.
The Little Deschutes is a perennial river, supporting aquatic life like pearlshell mussels that require continuous flow to survive. Some of the mussels in the river are more than 70 years old - evidence the river has not run dry in at least that long, and has likely had continuous flow for thousands of years. The range of mussel sizes shows the rivers supports an active reproducing population - an indicator of a healthy river ecosystem. Fish, crayfish, frogs, snakes, migratory birds, beavers, deer, elk, and numerous other wildlife can be found in the river and surrounding riparian areas.
In addition to the ecological impacts, the empty river increases wildfire risk, reduces wildland firefighting capability, and eliminates a treasured source of recreation. The healthy ecosystem and good stewardship of the environment is a draw for local residents and tourists alike. The destruction of a healthy river ecosystem will disincentivize tourists from visiting Gilchrist and Crescent and impact the economic wellbeing of the area.
We, the undersigned, request a river sustaining release of water from the Gilchrist mill pond dam. The amount of water release should be, at minimum, enough to create a continuous flow in the Little Deschutes River for the roughly 7.5 miles until the confluence with Crescent Creek. Based on historical river flow information, data from OWRD, and independent studies, this amount is estimated to be around 2-4 cubic feet per second. This release of water will reduce pond levels, but not to an extent that aquatic life in the mill pond or the ability to pull water from the pond for firefighting resources will be affected. As an added benefit, a reduction in pond level will increase flow of silt and clay into the pond, which will decrease pond loss from percolation into the ground (the primary source of water loss in the pond). The release of water from the Gilchrist mill pond dam will be an all-around benefit.
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Petition created on August 18, 2026